Jbellino - Rob Craigie/Charles Allen

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The end in Sight Jbellino

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Mon, 27/06/2011 - 17:14

The last day has been just hard sailing. On a close reach in moderate winds so well heeled over. Makes typing challenging 'cos I slide of the seat when a gust comes along:-).

Putting lots of reefs in and out as the wind changes constantly but making good speed.

Should be in for a late breakfast and a bit of a lunchtime party I suspect.

Rob

Channel Fever - Jbellino

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Mon, 27/06/2011 - 07:22

Less than 250 miles to Lizard Point and Channel Fever has set in with the crew of Jbellino. Topics of conversation change from the usual sailor talk (jib-booms, baggywrinkle, turks head and gribs) to more homely subjects (greenfly, offspring,
sweethearts and integrated transport systems). There is an air of expectation onboard, a tangible sense of, well... party.
Today we have been entertaining the wolf pack dolphin hunting groups that roam the edge of the continental shelf with sail changes, often repeated as we respond to the whims of wind and sea.
The drag race is nearly over.

Not Much Happening - Jbellino

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Sat, 25/06/2011 - 19:50

We are finding the race a bit lacking in changes. All boats sailing similar courses, going for max speed. It is good fast sailing but with not much change.

The weather is forecast to go light tonight so we will see how we all cope.

It does seem a lot of boats are all very close on handicap. It should make some interesting viewing as we get nearer the finish.

Rob

Real Racing? - Jbellino

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Sat, 25/06/2011 - 07:19

Maybe we have found real racing once again. The cruising and warm sun certainly passed last evening. Dark stormy looking clouds came over during the evening. It was made more imnperessive by the sight of a whale spout. At first I thought the mist was a low cloud but then it happened a dozen times over 10 minutes. We never saw the animal but it is the first time I have seen a real spout - so there is life out here after all!

Anyway my imagination started to run wild with thoughts of storm fronts and squalls. It got me quite psyched up for being out in the ocean.

Sunny and Warm - Jbellino

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Fri, 24/06/2011 - 13:17

The wind has dropped a bit and has now come up to 20kts so the A3 kite is the one to use. SO far we are sailing as well as we ever could.

The weather is just so unlikely for the North Atlantic, hot with blue skies.

Just about to settle down to a big fry up for lunch

Rob

Broken Sail

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Fri, 24/06/2011 - 04:23

Well last evening we were bowling along on the broad reach, surfing occasionally. The wind had become very constant and the sea smoother. We wanted to sail deeper on the rhum line and the A3 reacher didn't work that deep.

So we changed to the A2 runner. A good smooth change. The sail had only been up a few minutes when it split right across. We quickly got it down and the A3 up in its place. Leaves us short a sail when the wind drops light - oh well...

There was no real reason for the sail to tear. It had been up in stronger conditions before - but then that may be why it broke.

Seas Building

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Thu, 23/06/2011 - 15:42

Had the kite up for a while now. The seas are building nicely into long wave trains, starting to form into rollers. Feels very good when you catch open and the boat surfs to good high speeds.

Wind speeds are up to 23kts now and feel a bit heavier than earlier in the day. Still in control but slowly getting a bit more wild.

Will need to keep on driving hard. Seems questionable if we will have the light winds in the Western Approaches. Let's wait and see.

Rob

Surfing Along

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Thu, 23/06/2011 - 12:34

Looked at the positions overnight and saw the distance we had lost - must try harder. So put a kite up earlier. Even that took longer than usual.

First we had to put the sail in its snuffer. We forgot that we trawled it on the last leg and hadn't repacked it. With it up we saw a few nicks and holes. So down it came so we could tape the holes up. Then the second hoist went OK.

Speed is up significantly and only one broach so far.

I will load new weather this evening and see what the future holds for us.

This leg feels very different from the first.

Marginal Conditions

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Thu, 23/06/2011 - 02:00

Took the A0 kite down a few hours ago. The wind has increased and moved south. This makes it marginal for using a kite so we are using white sails. Makes me feel that we are not pushing hard enough but at least no broaches or wipe outs.

We are going fast and exactly on a direct course for the Lizard, but is it fast enough?

The happy 'cruising' have gone and we are now back to more serious racing.

Rob

Racing or Cruising - Jbellino

Submitted by Rob Craigie on Wed, 22/06/2011 - 15:23

Racing or Cruising - Jbellino

Well here we are - A0 close reaching kite set. Still set from this morning. The wind has varied between 6-9 kts. It has also changed direction as forecast from NE to SE and will likely continue through to S. So what? It means we have set the pilot to steer a constant wind angle and that's it. The wind has brought us gently round on course.

We have sat in the sun reading. It is almost too hot to stay in the cabin long. So a constant supply of cool drinks and the odd sandwich is all the effort required today.

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Rob Craigie

Skipper Nationality:

GBR

Charles Allen

Co-Skipper Nationality:

GBR

Type

J 122

IRC

1.077

Class

Jbellino is a standard J-122. I bought her new in 2007 and had her fitted with Tack Tick instruments and a Raymarine gyro auto pilot. Since I sail solo I use a roller jib and have fitted longer jib sheet tracks to ensure a good sheeting angle when reefed. The main has single line reefing which is very quick and effective. The sail is fitted with blocks rather than eyes so the reef line experiences low friction and sufficient foot tension can be achieved. All halyards, sheets and reef lines are Dyneema. Very expensive, very low stretch and very effective. Sails are by North. A permanently installed 12 volt computer and screen provides communication and navigation support. In harbour, communication is by a mobile internet dongle while at sea an Iridium sat phone is used to access emails and weather forecasts. My preferred navigation program is Expedition which supports all charting and routing needs.

Skipper Profile

I have been racing off shore for over 20 years. The longer racing eg. YM Triangle, Solent-Santander, AZAB have been double handed with Karen Dolling. I have owned and raced a Sigma 33, Sigma 38 and now J-122 over 30 years. I have sailed 22,000 miles in Jbellino with the highlight so far being the OSTAR 2009. The roller furling failed on day 3, the wind instruments on day 5 and west of the Grand Banks a storm blew in and I lost the big spinnaker and jib. I reckon fate was on my side though because I achieved 1st in class 1, 2nd line honours and 2nd overall IRC.

Co-Skipper Profile

Charles Allen, a highly experienced offshore racer, is the current holder of the monohull under 40ft (Single handed, fixed ballast) AZAB return leg record. This record time of 09-04-41 was set in the 1999 race in Charles' Mustang 30, Hakuna Matata. Charles expects his long standing record to fall this year, he says "It's a quality fleet for 2011. Given decent breezes I'd expect the record to fall. I'm racing two-handed this time around so will not be able to defend my record" Charles is back with Rob on Jebellino following their successful 2010 race programme that included the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race and RSYC Doublehanded Series.

Azab